Hilton Head Island to Charleston (CHS)

SueDonJ · May 2, 2013

During our first couple years of visiting Hilton Head there were many choices for non-stop flights between Boston or Providence and Savannah but that's not the case anymore - the best itineraries during the last five years or so have all been one-stop through Charlotte or Raleigh or DC. It's an inconvenience that we can sometimes lessen by flying directly to the island from the stop but that always adds $100+/- to the ticket prices.

I'm excited that JetBlue has introduced a non-stop Boston-Charleston route that will probably be tops on our list now. I'm not concerned about the drive from the airport to the island because we're not up against a schedule then. But the return trip is different, of course. How much time would you allow for leaving the island and getting to the Charleston airport? Does it matter whether your check-out day is Friday, Saturday or Sunday?

Thanks!

jme · May 3, 2013

Here's one way to judge it, and I think it's reasonable, as I've found these approximations pretty reliable. Most of the time I've made trips in less time than Googlemaps projects. Of course there are variables which will influence (lengthen) the trip: if you're hanging out a while and dealing with afternoon Rush Hour (also might render Friday a bit worse---otherwise, doesn't matter), or get caught up in "island check-out traffic", weather conditions, preferences as to how early you like to arrive at airports, etc. It will be pretty easy to speculate with your baseline of 2 hours (shown here) in mind.

http://goo.gl/maps/VirlZ

.

Carol C · May 3, 2013

Not sure what time of year you're going, but right now snowbird traffic on I-95 north and I-26 west is on the heavy side. Lots of Canadian license plates out there, eh? Many towing big trailers...or RVs towing their cars, bikes, kayaks etc. Fun to be a snowbird! But I digress. The month of May that migration northward should be dwindling down...but if you are driving first two weeks of this month I'd suggest adding a half hr to your drive trip planning "just in case".

Otherwise just do as jme suggests...he'll never steer ya wrong! :hi:

jaym · May 3, 2013

SueDonJ said:
During our first couple years of visiting Hilton Head there were many choices for non-stop flights between Boston or Providence and Savannah but that's not the case anymore - the best itineraries during the last five years or so have all been one-stop through Charlotte or Raleigh or DC. It's an inconvenience that we can sometimes lessen by flying directly to the island from the stop but that always adds $100+/- to the ticket prices.

I'm excited that JetBlue has introduced a non-stop Boston-Charleston route that will probably be tops on our list now. I'm not concerned about the drive from the airport to the island because we're not up against a schedule then. But the return trip is different, of course. How much time would you allow for leaving the island and getting to the Charleston airport? Does it matter whether your check-out day is Friday, Saturday or Sunday?

Thanks!

Sue- We reserved HH for Oct. getaway, I was concerned about the same issue on return drive to Charleston, SC airport with Southwest Airlines.

I decided to take the airfare hit and reluctantly booked US Airways flights from PVD (T.F. Green) to Savannah that stop on the way down in CLT and PHL on return.
Costly at about $375.00 RT each, less than ideal route through Philly too, but I didn't want the stress of driving that far and returning rental car. We get into PVD on a weeknight about 5pm so we just might have to eat somewhere in Providence area, Federal Hill (?), :banana:

let the traffic subside....

Pat H · May 3, 2013

The other alternative is to use Jacksonville. I find that drive a lot less stressful than Charleston. Jet Blue flies into JAX.

jaym · May 3, 2013

Pat H said:
The other alternative is to use Jacksonville. I find that drive a lot less stressful than Charleston. Jet Blue flies into JAX.

Pat- drive from JAX to HH looks to be over an estimated 2 hour trip, that seems just as stressful to catch a flight?
Have you made it between those destinations in substantially less time to be worthwhile?!

SueDonJ · May 3, 2013

Thanks everyone! We're heading down in a couple weeks for a 2-1/2 week stay so will be driving, but my sister is only staying a week and has booked a flight home out of Charleston. With a 1:00 departure we're thinking she should head out about 8:30/9:00 that morning, to give her a good cushion for traffic or airport issues?

Later in the year we'll be flying down for a couple shorter trips. I figured if Charleston doesn't work out for my sister to be an okay commute, or if the later-in-the-day flight times are a pain, then we can always book a Charleston hotel for the day we leave the island, then fly home the next morning.

I really want this Charleston thing to work. JetBlue is my favorite airline to fly so that's one reason, but on top of that it would be great to finally have another non-stop option.

Pat H · May 3, 2013

jaym said:
Pat- drive from JAX to HH looks to be over an estimated 2 hour trip, that seems just as stressful to catch a flight?
Have you made it between those destinations in substantially less time to be worthwhile?!

I prefer driving on the highway and it takes me about 1 hr 45 mins. I am in Bluffton so I am 15 mins - 1/2 hr closer to either airport.

CapriciousC · May 17, 2013

I think 2 hours is a reasonable estimate. There's construction on the 278, which might slow things down a bit. I also agree with Pat about taking I95 - while the "back route" via 170 to 21 is pretty, it's slower than the interstate.